More sleep, better sex

Heather Little-White, Contributor

If you need to add bounce to your sex life, you may have to try extra sleep. You would be surprised at the difference an hour or two make per week. Experts confirm that getting an adequate amount of sleep will make you healthier, boost your immune system while giving you the stamina to recharge your sex life.

Examine root causes for insomnia

If you have difficulty sleeping, it is important to assess the root causes as too much stress leads to anxiety, depression and sleepless nights. Start by assessing the persons and factors in your life, including the very partner you want to engage in better sex. What of your workload? What are the domestic arrangements like for children and members of the household? How many relationships are you straddling?

Seek social support from friends and family.

It helps to share your problems with those close you. When Maureen(name changed for privacy) had a crisis diabetic attack late at night, luckily her friend who knew of her diabetic condition was able to inform the hospital in the administration of aid.

Delegate responsibilities

Sort out your tasks for work, domestic arrangements at home as well as having a plan for your social life. It also means covering work-related tasks, including your personal assistants and household helper.

Think health-loving thoughts. Clear negative clutter and before your go to sleep, place yourself in a restive, amorous mood with soft music. A television set should not be in your bedroom or any other form of technology that could to disturb your deep sleep pattern. The repetition of nightly newscasts is not even worth listening once much less twice. The light from your laptop can suppress melatonin, a hormone linked to sleep.

Aid with health issues

While a good sleep will not grant you immunity from disease, studies have shown that insufficient sleep over time will place you at risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, heart attacks and obesity. Sleeping well is a great pain reliever reducing your dependency on some medication you are taking for complications like arthritis and so on. Some medications act as a pain reliever and sleep aid. With pain, sex often takes the back burner, even with trying new positions.

Better sex in men

According to the National Sleep Foundation, 26 per cent of persons complain about a lacklustre sex life because they are too tired. Impaired sleep in men may affect their testosterone levels leading to diminished performance in bed. Testosterone is one of the leading male sex hormones, so if you want to keep the vibrancy in your sex life, you must boost your testosterone levels.

The Journal of American Medical Association suggests that lack of sleep may be directly correlated to the amount of testosterone produced, decreasing levels by up to 15 per cent because of sleep deprivation. As men age, their testosterone levels fall off as a natural process of ageing.

If you are a younger man, you place yourself at risk for losing out on a truly romantic night if you go on a date and fall asleep to the annoyance of your partner. Of course, what ever goodies that were to follow would not be delivered.

Women can measure up

Women can deliver better sex even though they are often blamed for not delivering. Their partners should understand that a woman's sexual desire is a direct result of her emotions and physical factors in her life.

Exercise

This increases your ability to sleep. If you are on medication, check with your doctor before starting. A good night's sleep increases moods and attitudes.

Healthy foods

Eat healthily having lavish amounts of green, yellow, orange fruits and vegetables and eat copious amounts of whole grains.